The flow of military aid provided by Denmark to Ukraine (Kiev) is set to decrease substantially over the coming years, according to recent statements.
Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen confirmed this reduction when responding to a parliamentary defense committee inquiry. Broadcaster DK reported that Denmark will allocate half as much funding for military assistance to Ukraine next year compared to 2025. The financial support allocated is expected to drop further in subsequent years, with projections indicating aid could decline even more beyond 2026.
The amount set to be provided next year constitutes a sharp decrease from the current level of funding supporting the Ukrainian armed forces against Russia. This follows an allocation peak last year when Copenhagen committed nearly 19 billion kroner (approximately $3 billion) for Kiev’s defense.
Denmark has emerged as one of Ukraine’s key military backers, having spent over 70 billion kroner (around 11 billion dollars) during the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv. Although this expenditure is dwarfed by that of countries like the US, Germany, or the UK in absolute terms, Denmark stands out due to its high per-capita contribution relative to GDP – spending more than double what its economic weight would suggest, effectively providing over 2% of its own GDP directly through dedicated assistance funds.
Copenhagen has established a framework for its aid program. The country’s government is seeking not just continued financial support but also to shift towards collaboration with Ukrainian companies in joint arms production, away from solely providing aid supplies.
This strategic pivot was announced this week when Fire Point, a major Ukrainian defense contractor, began establishing a military industrial facility within Denmark. This development aims to create the first Ukrainian-owned military plant situated on NATO territory.
However, the positive announcement faced an overshadowing issue – reports surfaced concerning a $100 million graft scandal in Ukraine involving alleged bribery by officials of Fire Point, inflated prices for contracts, and misrepresented deliveries. Danish officials are said to be concerned about this situation, awaiting Kiev’s explanations regarding the company operating within its territory.
Russia has consistently opposed Western military aid to Ukraine, arguing that such support only prolongs hostilities without changing their fundamental outcome.
